Think BIG 2008 Conference Series March 28 Event to focus on sales strategies and tactics for growing businesses
Santa Barbara, CA, March 14, 2008 – It is 2008, well into the first decade of the millennium and a challenging economic climate, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) helps women entrepreneurs tackle one of the most intimidating tasks so crucial to any small business: sales. It is a new era, with new paradigms for everything, according to Alyse Hart, Executive Sales “insider”, Coach, Trainer and Business Development Expert. On March 28th, at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, Ms. Hart will present “Sell it Like a Woman: If You Can Talk, You Can Sell”, as the Keynote Speaker at Women’s Economic Ventures’ quarterly Conference & Business Expo, Think BIG. The first in WEV’s 2008 series, the March Think BIG conference will focus on sales strategies, tactics – and the power of storytelling – for growing businesses. Think BIG includes a full-day program of expert speakers, a panel of successful local women entrepreneurs, and hands-on activities.
According to Hart, the new paradigm is “Telling, not Selling”. And because almost every woman loves to talk about her greatest deals with friends, sharing the story with every splendid detail, Hart believes that most women already possess all of the skills necessary to sell; they just need a little practice. The power of storytelling as a sales technique is clear: storytelling predates laser pointers and Power Point presentations, helps women bond with others and establishes confidence.
“We are pleased to introduce Alyse Hart and our program of real world experts and success stories to our first 2008 Think BIG conference,” said Judy Hawkins, Executive Director of Women’s Economic Ventures. “Thanks to excellent guest speakers, panels, participants and staff, our 2007 series provided immediate impact for local entrepreneurs. We are thrilled to deliver an even bigger and better, Think BIG series for 2008.”
Speakers and entrepreneur panel include successful women doing business locally and nationally: Wendy Barlin, Certified Public Accountant; Shon Bjornberg, President of the Westlake Village division of the Sandler Sales Institute, Diana Starr Langley, Founder, Dioptics Medical Products and WEV ‘graduate’ Randie Hilliard, CEO and Founder of Rand Hill Naturals in Carpinteria.
Think BIG was developed in response to the growing needs of WEV’s clients and local business owners, to address the challenges they face once they have made it past the start-up and launch phases of their businesses. WEV’s Think BIG conference series features expert keynote speakers, panel discussions with local entrepreneurs who have successfully built their businesses and hands-on exercises for conference participants. Breakfast and lunch will be served at each of the day-long conferences.
SAVE THE DATE for these upcoming Think BIG events:
Friday, March 28th Fearless Selling
Friday, June 27th Visibility: Do Your Clients Know Where to Find you?
Friday, Sept. TBD Business Growth: Management and Operations
Friday, Dec. 5th Sustainability: Planning for the Future
All events take place at Fess Parker’s Doubletree in Santa Barbara from 9 am – 4 pm
Registration details & rates: Individual event Rate: $169 within 2 weeks of the event, or $189 at the door. $120 Group Rate (each registration for groups of 4 or more); $480 4-event series rate. Call (805) 965-6073, x 106 for more information or to register.
The Think BIG conference series is part of the continuum of programs WEV offers to help women start-up, launch, grow, and sustain their own business, including: business counseling, advanced business training, professional networking opportunities, and small business start-up and expansion loans. There are now more than 1,000 businesses throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties owned and operated by graduates of WEV’s Self-Employment Training program or recipients of small business loans through WEV. For more information please call 805-965-6073 or visit www.wevonline.org.